I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
Wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never

Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself 'cause they never did
Wasn't with it, but just that very minute
It occurred to me the suckers had authority

Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in the state pen
Gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
Contemplated a plan on the cell floor

I'm not a fugitive on the run
A fugitive, I'm not a fugitive
Public enemy servin' time
They drew the line, y'all, criticize me for some crime

I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive

I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened it, read it, said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
I wasn't with it, but just that very minute
It occurred to me the suckers had authority

Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in the state pen
Gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
Contemplated a plan on the cell floor

I'm not a fugitive on the run (I'm not a fugitive)
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive on the run
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive

I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never

Here is a land that never gave a damn
'Bout a brother like me and myself 'cause they never did
I wasn't with it, but just that very minute
It occurred to me the suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in the state pen
Gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
Contemplated a plan on the cell floor

I'm not a fugitive on the run (I'm not a fugitive)
(I'm not a fugitive on the run)
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive

I'm not a fugitive on the run
But a brother like me began to be another one
Public enemy servin' time
They drew the line, y'all, criticize me for some crime

Fugitve
(I'm not a fugitive)

Nevertheless, they cannot understand
I'm a Black man and I can never be a veteran
On the strength, the situ—
I'm not a fugitive on the run (I'm not a fugitive)
Nevertheless, they cannot understand
That I'm a Black man and I could never be a veteran
On the strength, the situation's unreal
I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel
Lookin' for the steel (Fugitive)
Lookin' for the steel
I'm not a fugitive (Lookin' for the steel)
Fugitive
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened it, read it, it said they were suckers
Wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never

Here is a land that never gave a damn
'Bout a brother like me and myself 'cause they never did
I wasn't with it, but just that very minute
It occurred to me the suckers had authority

Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in the state pen
Gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
Contemplated a plan on the cell floor

I'm not a fugitive, I'm not a fugitive

I'm not a fugitive on the run
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive, I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive on the run
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive
I'm not a fugitive